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Joel Embiid faces a lot of double teams.
It’s a smart strategy—he’s nearly impossible to guard one-on-one, given his size, finesse and ability to score from all three levels, and it forces him to make quick decisions as a passer, something he struggled with in the past (though he’s steadily improved as a playmaker).
But Embiid believes he would put up astronomical offensive numbers if teams weren’t allowed to double him.
“No doubles? Fifty [points per game],” Embiid said on The Check Ball Show when asked what he would average if double teams were outlawed (7:30 mark). “Not even kidding. I would. Because all you would have to do is just throw the ball down there [into the post] every single possession and I’ll get to the free-throw line or I’ll score. Most teams have what—two big men, three big men?—next thing you know they’re all going to be in foul trouble.”
Even with double and triple teams headed his way, Embiid still gets bigs in foul trouble. And he still averaged over 30 points per game in three straight seasons.
Meanwhile, Embiid hinted at the lack of help around him later in the conversation while saying that Jayson Tatum gets to play with a “super team” on the Boston Celtics (24:45 in video).
“If I go 5-for-20, we get blown out,” Embiid said.
The center should get more help this season with running mates like Paul George and Tyrese Maxey and a solid group of complementary role players behind him, also making it more difficult for opponents to use double teams. If Embiid takes another step as a playmaker out of the post and can stay healthy, the Sixers are going to be a problem.
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